Zimbabwe Test squad for Ireland One-Off Test 2024 announced

Zimbabwe have announced their squad for the one-off Test against Ireland to be played in Belfast from July 25-29. Craig Ervine is back to lead the side, which also includes another senior player Sean Williams.

Both Ervine and Williams are veterans of Zimbabwe cricket have been serving the national team for a long time now.

But surprisingly, Zimbabwe dropped both the senior players from the T20I squad against India and opted for a more youthful squad, with an eye on the future. Ervine has played 20 Tests while Williams has played 14 Tests so far. Both these players are the most experienced in the Zimbabwe squad.

This will be the first-ever Test match between Ireland and Zimbabwe and it is likely to be a historic occasion for both the teams. Both of them play Test cricket rarely which makes this an important game.

Also read: Indoor Test Cricket very much a reality as Cricket Australia comes up with an architectural masterplan for Hobart Stadium

Youngsters get a maiden Test call-up

Alongside opting for experienced players like Craig Ervine and Sean Williams, Zimbabwe have also included youngsters like Clive Madande, Brian Bennett, and Johnathan Campbell in the squad. This is a maiden Test call-up for all these three youngsters, who are currently playing in the T20I series against India.

Among the new faces, Bennett and Campbell have only played T20Is while Madande has played both ODIs and T20Is. Joylord Gumbie is another player who hasn't made his Test debut yet but is a part of the 15-man squad.

This will be Zimbabwe's first Test in more than a year. They last played a Test match against West Indies in February 2023 at Bulawayo, in which they lost by an innings and 4 runs.

Zimbabwe opts for pace-heavy squad against Ireland

According to Zimbabwe Cricket, the return of Ervine and Williams will give the side much-needed experience in foreign conditions. The pace bowling seems to be in good shape with Blessing Muzarabani leading the pack.

Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara, Victor Nyauchi, and Richard Ngarava are the four seamers in the squad. The conditions are likely to assist seam and swing bowling and the role of these four quicks will be crucial in those conditions.

Zimbabwe announce squad for first ever Test against Ireland

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When Zimbabwe last played a Test, Gary Ballance was also part of the Playing XI. But that Test proved to be his farewell Test too as he announced his retirement afterwards. Ballance scored a brilliant hundred in the game and scored an unbeaten 137 off 231 balls in Zimbabwe's first innings.

Speaking about Ireland, they don't have much experience of playing in Tests but their players have the experience of playing County cricket in England. Ireland have played just 8 Tests since their maiden Test appearance in May 2018. They lost their first 7 Tests but finally registered a win in their eighth Test when they defeated Afghanistan by 6 wickets in Abu Dhabi.

Zimbabwe squad for one-off Test against Ireland

Craig Ervine (C), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Tanaka Chivanga, Joylord Gumbie (wk), Roy Kaia, Clive Madande (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sean Williams